Clothes wringer and rinser



Oct. 31, 1939. F. ALwARD CLOTHES -WRINGER RINSER Filed Jan. 14, 1939 EYS INVENTOR f'arzab' Ala/ard @www ATTORN Patented Oct. 3l, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5Claims.

This invention relates to clothes wringers and has for an object to provide an improved construction of wringer which may act in the automatic capacity of a wringer and rinser.

5 Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein clothes may be wrung and, if

desired, rinsed later by pressing the clothes against a. foraminous discharge tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide l a combined wringer and rinser for clothes wherein the clothes are wrung by pressure, the device being so constructed that the pressure may be relieved quickly and access may be easily had to the clothes.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a combined clothes wringer and rinser disclosing an embodiment of the invention, a small portion being broken away for disclosing certain detail structures;

20 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through Fig. 1

approximately on the line 2--2;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cap shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper part of the wringer and rinser disclosing how the bag is clamped in place and also certain other detail features;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the air relief valve shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through Fig. 5 approximately on the line 6 6. n

After clothes have been washed it is necessary to wring the same before they can be rinsed and also it is necessary to wring the clothes after rinsing before the clothes can be hung up for drying. In large laundries various mechanisms have been provided for accomplishing these results, including a wringing machine having pressing rollers. Wringers using pressing rollers are now 40 in common use in homes but quite often they break buttons and are objectionable for various other reasons.

In the present invention means have been provided for wringing clothes without danger of tearing the clothes or breaking button., carried thereby. Also the device embodying the invention is adapted to wring and rinse the clothes a second time or oftener if desired, so that clothes placed in a device embodying the invention are treated by a wringing operation and a rinsing operation as often as desired and when removed are completely rinsed and wrung reasonably dry.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a casing .which is preferably made of metal and strong enough to stand some considerable pressure. A rigid or solid metallic head 2 is welded or other wise rigidly secured to the upper end of casing I. while at the bottom the casing I is provided with an aperture through which the tubular extension 3 of a. 5 foraminous pipe 4 extends. A discharge member 5 extends from the tubular extension 3 and is provided with branch pipes 6 and l, pipe 6 having a valve 8 to control the inflow of clean rinsing water, while pipe I is provided with a valve 9 10 for controlling the discharge water. It will be understood that the valve 8 is closed when valve 9 is open and that valve 9 is closed when valve 8 is open.

During the wringing operation water will pass downwardly, as hereinafter fully described, into and through the tubular extension 3 and out through the pipe 'I. This removes a large proportion of the soapy water `from the clothes. Valve 9 is then closed and valve 8 opened so as to ad- 20 mit water under the usual water main pressure in dwellings or wherever the wringer is located. It will be understood that when valve 8 is open, valve I6 is closed and air exhaust valve d3 is open. The rinsing water is clean fresh water which is forced upwardly through the foraminous tube 4 into the clothes. If there is any soap left in the clothes, the fresh water, which is preferably hot, removes the soap and then on a second wringing operation the soapy rinsing water will be dis- 30,

charged as just described and a second and a third rinsing operation may be carried out if it is thought necessary. After the last operation has been completed the clothes are removed and anotherbatch provided if desired.

From Fig. 2 it will be observed that a flexible bag I0 is clamped at the bottom between washers I I and I2, by reason of the fact that the shoulder I3 of pipe 4 presses against Washer II under the action of a nut I4 which is threaded on the tubu- 40 lar extension 3. All these devices are firmly clamped together and to the casing I and remain in this condition as long as the device is to be used.

The pipe I5 discharges into the casing I exteriorly of the bag I0 near the bottom thereof, as 45 shown in Fig. 1. The air or liquid passing through pipe I5 is controlled by a hand-operated valve I6. If air is available this is a desirable element for forcing into the container I exterior of the bag I0, for producing a squeezing operation. If air is not available, water under hydrant pressure may be used as this water cannot enter to the interior of the bag l0. Bag I0 may be made from pure rubber, canvas and rubber, or other suitable flexible waterproof and airproof material. It will be observed that the enlarged portion I1 at the bottom of pipe 4 is round and that the bottom of the container I 1s round so that there will be no sharp corners over which the bag must be 5 forced during the wringing or rinsing operation. Pipe 4 extends approximately two-thirds the way up from the bottom of the container and is i open at the top so that the foraminous cone Il may project into the pipe 4. It will be observed that cone I3 is provided with a reduced tapering portion I9 so that it may be readily inserted into the top of pipe 4. It will also be observed that there is a straight section 20 on cone I8, whereby the cone will support and prevent the upper end of pipe 4 from being forced sidewise. Cone Il is the tapering bottom' part of a cap 2 I which is shown more in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. This cap is provided with a tubular body 22 and a radiating ilange 23 having ears 24 and 25. The ears 24 and 25 are preferably somewhat thickened.

As these ears and associated parts are identical a description of one will apply to both.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, there is provided a pair of links 26 for each ear 25, and these links when in operative position straddle the ear 26.

One end of these links is connected to a lever 21 having a cam projection 28 and the other end pivotally connected at 29 to a rod 30 slidingly mounted in an ear 3| extending from the head 2.

30 A spring 33 surrounds the lower part of rod 30 and presses against the `ear 3| and against the enlarged end 34 so as to give the rod and links 26 a continuous tendency to move downwardly. Whenthe parts are in the position shown in 35 Fig. 4, links 26 are suiliciently loose to be slid oi! ear 25. When the cap 2| is to be clamped in position, the lever 21 is swung over to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereupon cam end 28 will be swung downwardly and press downwardly on the lug 25 to bring the spring'33 under tension.

As shown particularly in Fig. 4, there is pro,

vided an automatic relief valve 35 which consists of a spring 35', a ball 35 and-means for causing the spring to function, whereby the ball will normally close the passageway 3B which extends downwardly and opens into the interior of the casing I. The bag I0, as shown in Fig. 4, is v provided with an L-shaped annular part 31 clamped between members 38 and 38, which may be thin flexible metal members, ilber members, or members of othe;` suitable material. Preferably an annular washer 40 is arranged against the radiating flange portion 4| so that when the various screws 42 are tightened the parts will be firmly clamped to the head, 2, whereby none of the air or water forced between the bag I0 and casing I can escape. If the pressure of air or water between the bag |0 and casing I should be too great, the valves 35 will automatically open and allow a discharge. Two of these valves are shown in the accompanying drawing, but if desired a greater number could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. These 65 valves are set to operate automatically, while there is provided a manually actuated valve 43 for manually exhausting the air from a point exterior of the bag I0. Valve 43 is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, from which it will be observed that it includes a lever 44 connected to a sleeve 45 having an aperture 46. Sleeve 45 surrounds the hollow projection 41 which opens to the in. terior of the casing I. A washer 48 prevents sleeve 45 from moving off the member 41, which latter member is provided with an outlet port 43.

envases When the ports or openings 46 and 4l are in alignment, air may freely escape from the interior of the casing I. but when these ports are out of alignment no air can escape at this point but air may escape through the valves 36 if the pressure is too great. It will be observed that by swinging both of the levers 21 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and then swinging the links 26 outwardly, cap 2| may be quickly removed and at a later time reapplied and then clamped in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When cap 2| is removed wet soapy clothes are placed in the bag I0 until a desired amount of clothes is in the device. Preferably half or twothirds of the bag is filled and then air is turned on by opening valve I6. This air will quickly pass around the exterior surface oi' the bag and as the upper part presents the least resistance said upper part will swing inwardly, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2. As pressure continues the bag will begin to squeeze the clothes and the soapy water will flow therefrom into the foraminous tube 4 or upwardly into the foraminous cone I8. Liquid passing into the cone or into the. pipe just mentionedwill quickly pass downwardly under the action of gravity and outwardly through pipe 1. After the desired squeezing or wringing action is had, valve I8 is turned oil' and valve 43 rotated to exhaust the air from the container. As the air is exhausted the valve 9 is closed and valve 8 opened so that clean rinsing water may be inserted in the reverse direction to the outward movement of the soapy water. This rinsing water is preferably hot and the bag may be filled completely or partly as desired. After the rinsingoperation is completed valve 8 is turned on and valve 9 opened. Air valve I6 is thenopened and the rinsing water is forced out in the same way as the soapy water. This operation of inserting and removing rinsing water may be done as often as desired and after the clothes have been properly rinsed the cap 2| is removed and the clothes removed. If desired, a new batch of clothes may be immediately inserted and the operation of wringing and rinsing performed a second time.

It will be observedthat the wringing operation does not twist or mutilate the clothes in any way, but merely presses the same together, at first gently and then ilrmly, against the pipe 4. In this way all the water is really squeezed out of the clothes and drains out the pipe 1.

In Figs. 2 and 4 it will be observed that the curve of the foraminous tube and funnel approximates the curve of the inside of the tank. By reason of this formation there will be no stretching strain on the bag as it will naturally conform to either of these curves. It will also be noted that though the rinsing water may be forced upwardly through the foraminous tube 4, it may also be directed into the top of the funnel Il without the removal of 'the clothes but water may be poured in from a container or be directed into the funnel by a rubber hose or otherwise, as many times as desired. In devices using air or hydraulic pressure to extract water fromv the clothes the water leaves the clothes only to the extent that the pressure is applied. Where this method is used the pressing diaphragm because of its very construction forms a partial vacuum on one side of the pile of clothes for pressing the same. In the present invention the construction is such as to definitely eliminate any vacuum formed by the use of the center tube 4 and cone I8, which really, ina certain sense, 75

permit the clothes to breathe and the water to run out agitated by pressure without any vacuum restriction.

In connection with the automatic safety valve 35, it will be understood that the spring holding this valve in closed position is of a strength equalling the maximum air pressure desired for the wringing operation. As indicated in Fig. 4. serrations 25' are provided which permit free passage of air out of the valve when the air is exhausting in this way and also so as to insure a constant valve pressure not affected by the tension of links 33. It will therefore be seen that the ear 25 actually rests on a portion of neck 2, but by reason of the serrations 25' air is permitted to freely ow when excess pressure in the neck opens the safety valve. Also it will readily be understood that the air vent valve I3, shown particularly in Figs. and 6, is an easily operated Valve and, therefore, is desirable, but it will be evident that an ordinary pet cock or other form of valve could be used at this point without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Usually during washing of the clothes, one article of clothing is washed at a. time, especially in homes, and when an article of clothing has been washed and is stillwet and soapy it is dropped into the bag I 0. A second article is then washed and dropped into the bag, and so on until the entire wash has been completed. The rinsing and squeezing operation then takes place and the clothes are ready to be removed and hung up for drying.

I claim:

1. A Wringer and rinser of the character described including a container having an opening in the bottom and an opening in the top, a foraminous pipe extending centrally and longitudinally of the container near the top and through the opening in the bottom, a foraminous cone tting into the open top and telescoping in respect to said pipe, a water and air-proof bag arranged in said container exteriorly of said pipe and foraminous cone, means for .directing iiuid matter interiorly of the container and exteriorly of the bag to cause the bag to move toward said foraminous pipe for squeezing anything contained in the bag, whereby water therein will pass from the interior of said foraminous pipe and out the lower end thereof, means for directing a rinsing water in a reverse direction through said foraminous pipe into said bag, and a manually actuated exhaust valve for exhausting the air in said container exteriorly of said bag.

2. A wringer of the character described including a container having an opening at the bottom and an opening at the top, a foraminous tube arranged longitudinally and centrally of Vsaid container with the lower end extending through the opening in the bottom, a cap fitting in the opening at the top of said container, said cap being provided with a foraminous cone telescoping with respect to said pipe, an air-tight bag arranged in said container exteriorly of said tube and cone, means for clamping'said container, said bag and said tube together at the outlet end of said tube, means for directing air into the container exteriorly of said bag, and means for exhausting air from said container.

3.' A clothes wringer and rinser including a casing, a foraminous pipe arranged in said casing, an air-proof bag surrounding said pipe, means for causing air to act on the exterior surface of said bag for squeezing any clothes therein against said pipe, means for directing water from said pipeto a dischargepoint, and means for directing rinsing water in a reverse direction from said pipe into said bag.

4. A pneumatic wringer and rinser for clothes including a container having a foraminous pas,- sageway from the top to the bottom, an ,airproof bag connected to the container at the central part of the bottom and to ythe top near the outer part thereof, said bag surrounding saidA passageway, means for directing air into the container exteriorly of said bag, means for directing water from said passageway to a point exterior of the container, means for directing rinsing water in a reverse direction through said passageway into said bag, and means for exhausting the air from the interior of the container. 5. In a wringer of the character described, a container having an opening at the top, a foraminous passage way extending through said container from the top to the bottom, said passageway including a removable cap having 'an annular flange provided with a plurality of ears, means coacting with said ears for clamping said cap in place, an air-proof bag arranged in said container surrounding said passageway, means for directing air into the container exteriorly of said bag, and means for exhausting said air.

FRANCIS ALWARD. 

